Shape-retaining device for hats



Dec. 18, 1928.

5. LEFF sum: RETAINING navlca/ton' rum-s Filed Dec. 5, 192 4 apl- 7!! qa'roausv Patented Dec. 18, 1928.

PATENT Fries.

SAUL LEFF, F NEW YORK, n. Y.

SHAPE-RETAINING DEVICE FOR HATS.

Application filed December 3, 1924. Serial No. 753,543.

This invention relates to shape retaining devices for hats. More particularly, it is directed to anovel and improved form of device of the character described for holding and maintaining the crease in a soft crown hat.

An object of the invention is the provision of a device ofthe character described which is constructed with improved means for engaging the fold in the hat and for maintaining itself in proper position without inconveniencing the wearer.

A further object ofthe invention is the provision of a device of the character described which is simple in construction, readily applied andremoved, neat in appearance, cheap to manufacture, and efficient and practical to a high degree for the purposes described.

Other objects of this invention will in part be obvious and in part hereinafter pointed out. i

The invention accordingly consists in the featuresof construction, combination of ele- 25 ments and arrangement of parts which will be exemplified in the construction hereinafter described and of which the scope of application will be indicated in the following claim.

In the accompanying drawing, in which is shown one of the various possible illustrative embodiments of this invention,

Fig. 1 is a sectional view of a portion of a soft hat crown, partly broken away, show ing the shape retaining device applied thereto;

Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing the device positioned ready to be applied to the foldof the hat crown;

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the shape retaining device; and.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a modified form of shape retaining device.

Referring in detail to the drawing, 10 denotes a crown of a soft hatwhich is fashioned to be creased in the well known manner to provide a fold 1O having downwardly extending side walls '10" and a bight portion 10. To maintain and hold the fold 10 in proper position when the hat is worn or handled, one or more improved crease holding devices 11 are appliedto embrace the fold 10 as is clearly shown in Fig. 1.

The creaser 11 may be made of suitable material and of suitable dimen ions, metal 5 in sheet or wire form, celluloid, or the like being preferably employed in constructing the device. The size and proportions may be so designed to securely grasp and hold portions of the hatcrown when folded into any desired shape. I

As shown in the drawin device 11 (Join prisesa'strip of springy material folded' back on itself to form a loop portion 12, and two similar oppositely disposed jaws13 having indented gripping portions 13, each of which terminates in an outwardly flared end 13. Between the said gripping porq tions 13 and loop portion 12, the jaws 13 are bent inwardly toward each other as at 13 to provide retaining means which serve to embrace the bight portion 10 when the device 11 is in position. The flared end 13 of the gripping portion 13 may be provided with bent back portions 13 which extend between the jaws 13 to form together with the indented gripping portion 13 resilient double spring clamping onus on the de vice 11. I

From Figs. 1 and 2, it can be seen that the double spring clamping ends of device 11 co-act with the retention portions 13 to provide an improved means for engaging the hat fold 10 to prevent accidental displacement or shifting of the device 11 relative to the bight 10. The double clamping end construction also serves to increase the resiliency of the device 11 and permits the ready application and removal thereof from the hat fold 10. 90

To apply the device 11 to a fold of a hat, the device is placed as shown in Fig. 2 with the flared guiding end 13 against the bight portion 10 and simply pushed upwardly until the device 11 is in the position shown in Fig. 1. The double gripping portions of the jaws 18 will then grip the side walls 10 of the hat fold and portions 13 will engage the side walls 10 immediately above the bight 10, the device 11 being then firmly held in proper position in the hat without inconveniencing the wearer.

In F ig. 41- is shown a modified form of hat creaser retaining device embodying the invention. The device 15 here shown coniprises of a loop portion 16, and two similarly oppositely disposed jaws 17 having indented gripping portions 17*, each of which is terminated in an outwardly flared end 17. The flared ends 17 are provided with bent back inner jaws 17 which extend clownwardly between the jaws 17 to form together with the indented portions 17 double spring clamping ends on the device 15.

The inner jaws 17 between the flared end and the loop portion the device (see Fig. 4) are bent inwardly toward each other as at 17 to provide (as do portions 13 of device 11 above described) retention means which serve to embrace the bight portion when the device 15 is in effective position. Thus, like the said device 11, the device 15 is prevented from accidental displacement relative to the bight 10 and the construction is such that the resiliency of the device is greatly improved to permit the ready application and removal thereof rrom the hat fold. Briefly described, a dominant feature of the invention resides in the fact that the hat creaser grips the hat told at one point at a substantial distance from the loop by the improved double spring action of the gripping portions of the jaws and is further prevented from slipping from the told by the inwardly bent retaining portions immediately above the loop which engages the bight of the hat fold below said gripping portions, thus effectively eliminating the tendency of devices oi this character to slip from the fold where frictional contact between the surfaces of the creaser and the fold has been mainly relied on to hold the creaser in position. The double spring jaw construction increases the resiliency of the gripping portions of the device and thereby provides for the ready application and removal thereof from the hat fold.

It will thus be seen that there is provided a device in which the several objects of this invention are achieved and which is well adapted to meet the conditions of practical use.

its various possible embodiments might be made of the above invention, and as various changes might be made in the embodiment above set forth, it is to be understood that all matter herein set forth or shown in the accompanying drawing is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense; I

v Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters iatent A hat shape retaining device of the char acter described comprising a single strip of resilient material formed with a loop portion mid-way its ends and two similar oppositely disposed members each terminated by an outwardly flared portion said flared portion being inturned to extend between said members to form a double spring coacting gripping means,the portions of said members adjacent said loop being bent inwardly toward each other to form a supplemental retention means substantially as described and for the purposes specified.

In testimony whereof I afliX my signature SAUL LEFF. 

